Integral hinge for sheet metal containers



June 5, 1951 J. F. PETERS ET AL 2,555,366

INTEGRAL HINGE FOR SHEET METAL CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 7, 1946 VENTORS 3m my ing tape.

Patented June 5, 1 951 INTEGRAL HINGE FOR SHEET METAL CONTAINERS John F. Peters, Leonia, N. J., and Herbert W. .l' ones, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignorsto American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 7, 1946, Serial No. 639,504

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers or cans and has particular reference-to a sheet metal can having a hinged cover and a projecting bead formed to receive the cover so that the can and cover may be sealed by a removable tape. 7

An object of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal can having an outwardly projecting bead and a hinge cover the beadbeing of such shape and size as to better receive the cover which is formed with a depending flange wall which extends down adjacent the bead and is flush with the outside wall of the bead to provide a uniform surface for application of a sealing tape which extends over the adjacent flush edges of the cover and the bead when the cover is in closed position on the can.

Another object is the provision of such a can wherein a novel wireless hinge element is formed integrally with the bead for attaching the cover to the can in a manner which does not interfere with the application of the sealing tape over the hinge element.

Another object is the provision of such a can wherein the cover end of the can is reenforced with an inwardly disposed hem setting off a smooth uniform seat edge for the hinge cover.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed can embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the upper end of the can shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 taken through the hinge portion of the can and showing the cover in an open position, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged back View of the can and its cover arranged in separated position prior to assembly, with parts of the can broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a sheet metal tobacco can made preferably of tin plate or the like material and adapted to be sealed with a removable seal- This can comprises an oblong shaped tubular body I I having at one end a bottom closure member I2 (Fig. 1) secured thereto in a suitable seam I3 and at its opposite or upper end a hinged slip cover I4.

The can body II is provided with a smooth even top edge for the reception of the cover I4. For this purpose the upper marginal edge portion of the body is turned inwardly and downwardly against the inner surface of the body thus providing a smooth seat edge I5 (Figs. 2 and 3) for the cover and forming a fiat hem I6 which reenforces the upper edge of the body. This hem extends completely around the body.

Below the hem I6 and in spaced relation thereto the body I I is formed with an outwardly projecting flat bead E8. This bead extends completely around the body. Along the opposite rounded ends of the body the upper edge of the bead tapers upwardly along an inclined line I9 (Fig. 2). The bottom edge of the bead extends straight across these rounded corners of the body. These edge lines of the bead merge into a comparatively wider bead section extending across the back of the body.

Hinge elements for the cover I4 are provided in the wide section of the bead I8 along the back or rear wall of the body. For this purpose the bead along its upper edge is formed with an elongated outwardly extending curved bead projection 2i. At two places adjacent and along the length of this bead projection a portion of the bead I8 and a portion of the rear wall of the body II are cut away to form single continuous clearance openings 22, 23 respectively (Figs. 3 and 4). A portion of the metal of the bead at these clearance openings is compressed into cylindrical shape forming a pair of spaced hollow wireless hinge pintles 25 for the cover I4. These pintles by such compression are slightly reduced in diametrical dimension.

The cover I4 is formed with a fiat top 2? surrounded by a depending flange 28 of varying depth which corresponds with and conforms to the upper edge I9 of the inclined or tapered body bead I8. This facilitates its hinging action on the body and when the cover is in closed position on the body the bottom edge of its flange 28 is closely adjacent to the upper edge of the body bead. Therefore when the cover is in closed position there is only a slight space between the lower edge of the cover flange and the top edge of the body bead. Its outer surface is substantially flush with the outer surface of the projecting body bead I8.

Along the back edge of the cover I4 its flange 28 is formed with a pair of hinge lugs 29, These hinge lug extend through the clearance openings 22, 23 and are curved around the pintles 25. In this manner the cover is hingedl connected flange and the body bead l8 and also seals the rear body wall clearance openings 22, .23 for the hinge lugs 29. The hinge pintles 25 formed from the material of the bead [Send the body H are disposed in the clearance openings so that they project very little beyond the bead l8 and thusare readily covered by the sealing tape without any undue interference.

When it is desired to open'the can the sealing tape may be pulled off or if desired may be out along the terminal edge of the cover flange. The cover may then be readily hinged to open position and may be repeatedly used as a reclosure for the can.

It is thought that the invention and vmany of its attendant advantages will be'understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A sheet metal container comprising a tubular body terminating at its upper end in an inwardly turned peripheral fiat hem to provide a smooth cover seat, said body having parallel front and rear walls and outwardly curved connecting end walls, said body adjacent its open end having a wide fiat bead projecting outwardly from the plane of the body and extending completely around the body, said bead at the rear Wall of said body having an elongated curved integral projection constituting a wireless hinge pintle on said body, said rear body wall being cut away to form a clearanc opening adjacent said pintle, and a container cover having a depending peripheral flange provided with-a curved hinge lug extending through said clearance opening and embracing the aforesaid hinge pintle on said body rear wall, the lower peripheral edge of said cover fiange on opposite sides of said hinge lug conforming and being closely contiguous to the upper peripheral edge of said fiat body bead when the cover is in closed position engaging the smooth hemmed seat of said body to constitute a substantially flush surface between adjacent outer surfaces of the container cover and body for the reception of a removable tape to surround and seal the container.

2. A sheet metal container comprising a tubular body terminating at its upper end in an inwardly turned peripheral fiat hem to provide a smooth cover seat, said body having parallel front and rear walls and outwardly curved connecting end walls, said body adjacent its open end having a wide fiat bead projecting outwardly from the plane of the body and extending completely'around the body, said bead tapering from a narrow portion along the front body wall to a comparatively'w'ider portion along the rear body wall, the upper portion of said bead at the rear wall'of'said body having an elongated outwardly curved projection having spaced compressed portions of reduced diameter constituting wireless hinge pintles on said-body, adjacent portions of said fiat bead and the rear body wall being'cut away to form spaced continuous clearance openings on opposite sides of said pintles, and a container cover having a depending peripheral flange provided with spaced curved hinge lugs respectively extending through said clearance.openings and embracing the aforesaid hinge pintles-of reduced diameter on said body bead projection, the lower peripheral edge of said cover fiange between and on opposite sides of said hinge lugs conforming and being closely contiguous to the upper peripheral edge of said fiat tapered body bead when the cover is in closed position engaging the smooth hemmed seat of said-body to constitute a substantially fiush surfacebetween adjacent outer surfaces of the container cover and body for the reception of'a removable tape to surround and seal the container.

JOHN F. PETERS. HERBERT W. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of 'recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 537,844 Moore et a1. Apr. 23, 1895 1,246,932 Jones Nov. 20, 1917 1,317,421 Berry Sept. -30, 1919- 1,432,181 Hake, Jr Oct. 17, 1922 1,586,463 Paquette May 25 1-926 2,183,330 Drew Dec. 12, 1939 2,195,161 Baker Mar. 26, 1940 

